The effect of passive and active exposure to tobacco smoke on lipid profile parameters and the activity of certain membrane enzymes in the blood of women in the first trimester of pregnancy

•Tobacco smoking in first trimester of pregnancy disorders lipid profile.•γ-glutamyltransferase activity is mainly affected by disorders in lipid profile.•Alanine aminopeptidase activity is affected by exposure to tobacco smoke.•Activity of paraoxonase is decreased when exposure to tobacco smoke occurs.•Observed disorders could increase risk of cardiovascular diseases in future.

The effect of tobacco smoke on lipid peroxidation, the lipid profile and membrane-bound enzymatic activity in the first trimester of pregnancy was investigated.In the plasma of women with active exposure to tobacco smoke, we have found increased lipid peroxidation and higher total concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins in the blood, as well as a decreased concentration of high-density lipoproteins. A higher concentration of low-density lipoproteins and a lower concentration of high-density lipoproteins were also found in the plasma of passive smokers. In contrast, women who smoked before pregnancy had only a higher low-density lipoprotein concentration. In the group of active and passive smoking women, lower arylesterase and phosphotriesterase activities of paraoxonase were observed, while the lactonase activity of paraoxonase decreased only in the group of active smoking women. In women with active exposure to tobacco smoke, a higher activity level of alanine aminopeptidase and γ-glutamyltransferase in the plasma was found.It is important to monitor the lipid profile during pregnancy, especially when exposure to tobacco smoke occurs.